I'm now ready to get started spending moneys on a rifle build. The goal is a 6.5x47 lapua for a Tikka action.

Been told it's highly recommended that i get my bolt bushed in order to shoot the small rifle primers. "The dude" for this is apparently Gretan rifles but according to their website, they're not accepting any more work right now. Any other suggestions?
I found a place called Grimstod Desh bt never heard of them. Long Range Inc does it but seems very expensive + the upcharge for tikkas. Any tikka expert happen to know why a gunsmith would charge more for a tikka?

I also invite any comments on 6.5x47 lapua as a caliber. I'm still think over options.

think there is a gun builder on here who knows Tikkas inside and out. Maybe he'll chime in

what are you going to use the rifle for?

Be ready to pay though. EVERYTHING is trickling down to the consumer now.

DONT GO CHEAP.

Yes build a 6.5x47!!! It is a terrific cartridge. I have seen ES of 0 fish for five shots out of them.

A good friend of mine is an authority on the cartridge. No telling how many barrels he has been through all shooting 6.5X47. H-Varget is the preferred powder. He anneals after every firing, and told me he quit keeping a firing count on his brass after 17 firings.

No real purpose in mind other than accuracy and fun. My current target rifle was something I didn't plan. It was modifying something I had and learning reloading at the same time. This rifle will be more like taking all the things I've learned and now trying to squeeze as much accuracy out of what i got as possible.
So far I got a tikka donor action. The plan is to get a krg x-ray chassis and a pre-fit barrel from preferred barrel blanks. This way i can learn the caliber and the next one will be a proper barrel that will be properly chambered and installed by a competent person.

FJ, good to hear. I got some 130 and 140gr 6.5mm bullets andplenty of varget. Glad to hear that is powder of choice for some.

Sounds like wasted money settling for $300 in the beginning and more in the end

I love my x47. I run mine pretty slow but it's so consistent its not funny. Varget and 136 scenar L is the current combo. Next might be 135 a tip and 6.5 staball.

Also I'd call the guys at redbeard gunworks around corpus. They used to bush bolts.

Don’t know if you need to do it or not but if you do I’d call LRI

https://www.longriflesinc.com/products/gunsmithing-services-bushing-m700-striker-pin-hole

I thought tikas were perfect, walked on water.. now you gotta bush the firing pin… 🤦‍♂️

I have a 6.5 x 47. It is not a Tikka although I own one in .222 . Don't think you would need your pin bushed if you use CCI 450 primers. Let me know if you have component issues down the line.

Tikka does not make a .473" bolt face with a small primer firing pin.

I seem to recall reading most large firing pins work fine on small primers. Might need to use tougher primer like CCI 41.

I could be completely wrong so there's that.

I shoot small primer 6.5 Creed brass in my Tikka and never had a problem. I would not pay the cost of having it done if you don't experience pierced primers.

just shoot the dang thing , the go work on your concentricity

Huh, I often over think things ALL the time so I assumed if this is something I need done then I might as well get it done from the beginning. I guess I never really question whether I HAD TO get it done.

Have u noticed any accuracy difference when switching from large to small primers?

I'm using Lapua brass in the 6.5 and would attribute accuracy and low ES/SD to the consistency of the brass vs. Hornady. On my 6 Creed I tried Alpha brass in both SRP and LRP and did not notice any difference in accuracy or ES/SD. Don't overthink this one, just try it and IFF you get pierced primers than you should have it bushed.